2020 Domaine Val de Caire Rosé

Region: Côteaux d’Aix en Provence > France 

Grapes: Grenache, Syrah

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: certified organic farming, limestone and clay soil with marine deposits, 50% direct press, 50% short skin maceration, vinified and aged in stainless steel, bottled unfined, unfiltered with minimal added So2; 12.8% ABV

Winemaker: Guillaume Reynier

When he decided to start a winery, Guillaume Reynier picked a little slice of paradise. One could do worse, he probably thought, than the steep slopes of the Luberon region just north of Aix-en-Prôvence, surrounded by a thick pine forest and bordering the Parc Naturel Regional de Luberon. The Parc provides natural springs that help keep his dry farmed vines hydrated and marine fossils dot the vineyard. The surrounding forests amplify the characteristic Prôvençal garrigue and also cool the vineyard by increasing the diurnal variation (difference between day and night temperatures). This leads to higher acidity in the grapes which in the time of climate change is welcome! Farming organically since 2003 and certified since 2010, Guillaume has chosen to let nature be nature and accept its influence on his vines, despite the fact that the forest is so thick he must keep his production small. While the category of Prôvençe rosé is large, as is production from many large wineries, Val de Caire’s is a personal endeavor. 

This textbook (and gorgeous) Prôvençal rosé, with a twist: it's certified organic, small production and unfined/unfiltered.  Legit NATURAL rosé from Provence, which is a rare and beautiful thing in an area dominated by large scale, conventional operations.  Perfectly pale pink in the glass with bright acidity, pretty red fruit, citrus and Mediterranean herbs, its bone dry on the palate and practically oozes sophistication.  We rarely feature Prôvençal rosé because its hard to find an example this pristine AND delicious, so lovers of this style of pink should absolutely stock up.